Nail-assorting machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

C. W. GLIDDEN. NAIL ASSGRTINGYMAGHINE.

No. 498,429. Patented May 30, 18.93.

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(No Model.) 8 Slieetzs-Sheetl 2.

C. W. GLI'DDEN. NAIL ASSORTING- MACHINE.

No. 498,429. Patented May 30, 1893.

(No Model.) aSheets-snet a.

'-0. W. GLIDDBN. NAIL ASSOBT-ING MACHINE.

No 498,429. Patented May 30, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WV. GLIDDEN, OF LYNN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES W. BROOKS,

' TRUSTEE, OF PETERSHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

NAIL-AssoR-HNG MACHINE.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,429, dated May 30, 1 893.

Application filed July 23, 1892. Serial No. 441,021. (No model.) v I To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. GLIDD'EN, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in N ail- Assorting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with lthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction and operation of that class of machine shown in United States Patent No. 464,196, granted to me December 1, 1891, whereby the machine is simplified, and without removal of parts may be quickly adapted for handling nails of dierent length. The

.patent referred to represents the nails as being put into what are calledpools by elevators represented as bars adapted to be reciprocated vertically in the hopper or pool containing the nails in mass. In practiceit was found desirable to so shape the upper edges of these elevator bars as to form pockets for the nails, such pockets being substantially of the length of the nails, thereby avoiding the overlapping of nails on the edge of the elevator, overlapping of the nails interfering with their correct discharge into the pools. The pockets overcame the trouble due to overlapping, but it was found necessary to have a number of these elevator bars and provide them with pockets of different length to accommodate the particular length of nail to be used. To further improve the machine,ldevised a cornpound elevator, or an elevator composed of two bars lying side by side, each bar having a series of prongs or uprights so shaped as to fall in substantially the same horizontal plane or line so that when the said bars were adjusted one with relation to the other longitudinally the said prongs would be made to approach or recede from each other in pairs, and thus constitute pockets of the length desired for the nail to be handled. In the ma.- chine referred to, the parts containing the pools had also to be changed to correspond with the particular length of nail to be used, but herein I have devised means whereby the length of the pools may readily be simultaneously and symmetrically adjusted to the length of the nail.

Figure 1, is a plan view of a nail asserting mechanism embodying myinvention, some of the devices at the right-hand side 'of the machine supposed to be exactly as at the left, being omitted. Fig. 2, isan end view of a sufficient portion of a nail assorting mechanism to enable my invention to be understood the left-hand half of the machine beingshown in section in the line x of Figs. 1 and 5, to better illustrate its interior construction, the machine 'in practice containing at both sides like devices. Fig. 2a, is a detail of part of the driver plate d. Fig. 3, is a plan view of that part of the machine to the left of the dotted line 0c', Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is an enlarged detail showing the adjusting devices for the pool detached and reversed from the position shown in Fig.v 3. Fig. 5, is a detail showing in plan view the adjusting devices for the elevators. Fig. 6, in elevation shows part of the lifter detached. Fig. 6a, is a detail showing the upper end of the discharging device, and one of the lifters; and Fig. 7, is a detail showing the compound elevator with its plates somewhat separated, the figure being reduced about onehalf from the scale of Fig. 5. v

In the drawings, A represents a stationary traine-work, and it may be of any suitable shape to sustain the working parts to be described, and it may be sustained in any suitable manner.

The frame-Work has suitable tracksor guideways A for a reciprocating tableB, one half of which is shown in section in Fig. 2, said table in practice having a gigging or shaking motion imparted to it in some suitable manner as herein provided for by a connecting rod B embracing a crank or eccentric on a suitable shaft B2 actuated in any usual or suitable manner. This table contains several sets or series of like devices to enable the desired number of headless nails to be assorted one ot these, and in my description Work toward the lett in Fig. 2, the parts at the right ot the receptacle being just the same as at the lett. The said slot in the bottom ot the hopper receives whatl have called a compound elevator, it being composed ot two plates d, b, iitted closely together, and each provided with a series ot projections as a,b, the projections ct being so shaped as to overlap and tit the beveled upper edge ot the plate b, while the projections b are so shaped as to overlap the beveled upper edge ot the plate d, the said edges being shown as ot the same-coinciding bevel, such construction ot the projections a',

b', leaving them in the same path ot movement so as to constitute like end walls for nail pockets, the pockets being the spaces lett between. the acting faces ot the said projections, and consequently by adjusting these plates longitudinally one with relation to the other, pockets ot any desired length may be constructed, the length ot the pockets depending on the length ot the nails to be used. To adjust these plates thereon, I have in this present embodiment. employed devices which I will now describe. hopper portion I have located a right and lett threaded screw c, and to prevent longitudinal movement thereof during its rotation, I have provided the said screw with a suitable annnlarspace as c which is entered by suitable bearing blocks c2 fixed to a spiderD having a shank D which in practice will be reciprocated tor a short distance vertically in the sleeve or bearing A2 forming part ot the trame-work. It may be so reciprocated by a sector lever A2, partially shown in Fig. 2, and engaging the sha nk D', said lever deriving its movement trom any suitable source. The

plates a, b, are provided; respectively withr The reslots a4, b4, and with holes d5, b5. versely threaded parts ot' the screw c enter respectively threaded blocks c3, c4, provided at opposite ends with like pins, one ot which is marked 4 and the other 5. In Fig. 7, the plates a, b, are reversed end tor end trom the position Fig. 5, where the said plates are lettered. The pin 4 enters the hole a5 and acts to move the plate ct,while the pin 5 passes.

through the slot c4 and enters the hole b5 in plate Z') and moves it, the slot permitting movement ot one plate without contact with the pin moving the other plate. Providing each plate with like slots, enables the plate to be used interchangeably at either side ot the hopper. The screw cin practice has, see Figs.

2 and 3, a milled head c by which to rotate it.

Next to the left ot the compound adjustable elevator is an upright or division wall d, a portion of the upper edge of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 2, said division Wall having a longitudinal groove t to form the bottom ot certain pools, to be described, into which the nails are deposited by the elevator described, said groove being intersected by a series of vertical holes 6, 7, 8, in which are tted to slide vertically, the litters h, 7L', andy Below the bottom ot said the discharging device t', see detail Fig. 6, the litters being connected to a bar h2, while the discharging devices areconnected to a bar 71,3 just below it, the bar 71.2 being usupported in a yielding manner above the bar h3 in this present instance ot my invention by springs h4, pins h5 acting as guides tor the bar h2.

The central litter h is represented as semicylindrical to cooperate with the discharging device t' ot like shape, their fiat sides working together, their upper ends being beveled preterably in opposite directions so as to form a fork or notch. The upper ends ot the litters 7L, are notched in the direction ot the length ot the bar h2, said notches as the upper ends ot the litters rise from the bottom ot the pool acting to properly support andY carry a nail. When .the litters start to rise with a nail the upper ends ot the litters and the discharging devices are at the same level, but after the spider D has been lifted sufficiently to enable the litters to bring the nail up Ato the upper edge lot the bar m over which they are to be cast point tirst, the bar h2 meets and is arrested by the under side ot the slide B, the spider in its further movement, however, litting the bar h3 and ,with it the discharging device i which contacts with the nail at the middle ot its length, said nail resting on the litters h, and by its inclined upper end causes the nail to be moved laterally from the litters over the upper vedge ot the bar m, but to insure the passage of the-point ot the nail 'across said lbar in advance ot the crossing ot the head ot the nail I have provided two stops 12, 13, against one ot which, the head ot the nail being lifted at its middle, by the discharging device, will act and be thereby held back while the lighter or point-end ot the nail is lifted and pushed over the other projection. The point end of the nail having passed the stop adjacent to itis lett tree to drop into the mouth n located at one side ot the bar m, the nail so dropped point first passing through the said mouth and entering a guide or tunnel n at the upper end ot a nail conducting or guiding tube. or roadway n2 leading Ato the point where it is desired to deposit the nail. The upright dis capped by the harm, it having a narrow thin upper edge and beveled or inclined on its discharging side as at the lett in Fig. 2. This bar ml is embraced by a series ot movable partition walls o, o', connected respectively with parallel slide bars 02, 03, each made simultaneously adjustable in opposite directions by a right and lett screw p, in nuts o4, o5, ot said bars. These partition Walls are extended below the back or rear side of theAbar m and are so shaped as herein shown as to enter and tit the groove t made in the upper end ot the division wall d, so that as thesaid screw is rotated in one or the other direction the said division walls are made to recede from or approach each other to thus make the space between each co-operating pair ot division walls ot greater or less width to adapt the series of IOO IIO

pools to the length of the nails being used. The stops 13, ,14, referred to, are attached to the division walls and are adjustable in unison with them. The mouths referred to, are shown as separate blocks having handles r, by which they may be removed from the machine in case it is desired to not use any one roadway, the hole in the slide B left by removing a roadway or mouth, being suitably corked or plugged.

Believing myself to be the first to make a lifter in two or more parts so that one part may be moved on or with relation to the other to form nail pockets ot desired length, and also believing myself to be the first to use a series of nail pools which have adjustable walls, this invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown for said mechanism as the same might be variously moditied in shape and yet not depart from my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a nail assorting mechanism, a nail elevator provided with projections to divide the same into pockets, combined with adjusting devices to lengthen or shorten said pockets as desired to adapt them to the length ot nail being used, substantially as described.

2. In a nail assorting mechanism, a hopper or receiver tornails in bulk, and a pool, combined with a nail elevator composed of two or more parts adjustable each with relation to the other to provide the elevator with longer or shorter pockets according to the length of nails to be used, substantially as described.

3. In a nail asserting machine, a pool, combined with end walls and adjusting devices to adjust the said end walls relatively to each other to adapt the length of the pool to the length of the nail being used, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a slide having a hopper or nail receiver, of a nail elevator composed of two plates placed side by side and having projections, the projections of one plate overlapping the other plate, and vice versa, and a right and lett hand screw device to adj ust the said plates one with relation to the other longitudinally, substantially as described.

5. A nail asserting mechanism containing the following instrumentalities, viZz-a slide having a hopper or receptacle for nails in bulk, a compound elevator, means to adjust it to lengthen and shorten the pockets thereof to the requirements of the nail being used, a pool into which the elevator deposits a nail lifted by it, a series of litters, adjustable end 6.o

walls for the pool and between which end walls the said litters are adapted to rise and fall, a discharging device, a discharging bar as m, and a mouth to receive and guide nails point rst, substantially as described.

6. In a nail assorting mechanism, a discharging wall overv which nails are to bedischarged, a pool at one side of the wall, a series of litters, and a discharging device adapted to be reciprocated vertically in the said pool to litt a nail, devices to impart additional vertical movement to the discharging device, and stops co-operating with the head ot the nail to prevent it from being moved laterally7 while the point end of the nail acted upon near its center is being lifted by the discharging device, whereby the discharge of the nail point foremostis insured, substantially as described.

7. In a nail assorting machine, a discharging bar having at one side a nail pool, lifting devices, and a discharging device adapted to be reciprocated vertically in said pool to lift and discharge a nail, combined with stops `13, 14, and devices to adj ust the same toward and from each other to adapt them to the length of nail being used, to operate, substantially as described.

.8. In a nail asserting machine, a discharging bar having at one side a nail pool,lifting devices, and a discharging device adapted to be reciprocated vertically in said pool to lift and discharge a nail, combined with stops to arrest the head end ot the nail as the nail is beingdischarged point foremost, substantially as described.

9. In a nail asserting mechanism, `a lifting device adapted to litt loose nails singly and support them in horizontal position; and a co -operating nail discharging device; colnbined with a stop to retard the movement of the head of the nail while the discharging devicefacts to discharge the nail point-ti rst from the lifting device, substantially as described.

10. In a nail assorting mechanism, a support for the opposite ends of a nail while in horizontal position; and two stops for the sides of the nail, one being located near the head and the other near the point end of the nail, combined with a discharging device toeffect the discharge of the nail point-first, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two .subscribing witnesses. I

CHARLES YV. GLIDDEN.

Vtitnesses: A

H. P. FAIRFIELD, GEO. W. I-IAMMATT.

IIO 

